Accountability Nov 16-22nd

[Soror]

Sigh...

 

Our team competed and did very well but we did not advance, so life is perhaps getting back to normal. I'm coming down a bit from the adrenaline rush of it all and feeling, what's the word, UGH. 

 

I did have a Dr.'s appt tomorrow which was going to nix school but considering the weather and other details I believe I'll be rescheduling. 

 

Up on the docket this session (from now until the end of the year with little breaks for the holidays in there):

ds

time travel math- Hands on equations

continue spelling

finish section 2 of Treasured Conversations

study the American Revolution and Astronomy

 

dd

keep on keeping on with Horizons math

Start LoE Level D, just ordered the digital pre-release and we're testing it out to see how it fits

 

both: nature studies- Astronomy will be a family subject as will be the Revolution, read good books. I think I'm starting Dr. Dolittle.

 

Not sure where to go with ds, he is not enjoying re-reading Narnia all that much, he's read them and listened to the audios and I've read some to him so feels it is all just a repeat. 

 

Our big focus I believe will be family traditions, handicrafts and reconnecting with each other.

 

[Critterfixer]

We started our week yesterday, and after the abbreviated week last week and the impending snow I didn't have the most earnest of students. And I wasn't in a good mood either, so all in all, not one of the best Sundays ever.

This week will be our last of the fall term. December we will be beginning Homer, and continuing with the homemade fiction course I'm doing. We will be going into book 4 in CLE math, the third declension in Latin, and I will probably cover gymnosperms in Botany before breaking off for the winter to do other vascular plants in the spring. Birds are coming in to the feeders now, and I've been fielding questions on birds and feathers, so I will probably get the MP Bird course for winter and early spring.  History is going fine since I applied the KISS principle and simply asked for reading and a five-fact collection from the text. I want to do more, though. We're getting into some good times in History to spend more time talking about.

So I'll be doing a lot of planning this week and next on what I want to do December through about the middle of March.

 

 

[Tawlas]

I hope you shake off the "UGH" soon soror! maybe a return to routine is all you need.

 

And speaking of routine, we're not realy following ours over here. Well. We are and we aren't. Friday was a really challenging day and honestly, Saturday wasn't much better. I'm solo parenting most of the week to top it off (which also means extra ranch chores for us all) so I think I'm calling uncle and doing something different this week. I'd love it if it meant that I could just say "No school!" and the kids would scatter off into different productive and peace ful activiites, but they're in an ugly quarrelling phase so I think I'll need to be present most of their day. Sigh. So jealous my spouse is off, completely childless, to a friend's house for the week to help them out. I desperately need a personal day but there's no opportunity in sight yet.

 

Anyhow. This week I'm going to read some Roald Dahl (haven't decided which one), we're going to play some board games and math games and sight word games, we're going to make bread, and watch a few of my favorite movies, make snowflakes and do some activities from a science kit I have kicking around. I just don't have it in me to do full on school this week. I have a week off every six weeks or so tentatively planned but I'd planned on using the for when my stepdd goes visiting her other parent, however it's been 9 weeks of 6-day-weeks since she last went and I think we all just need a break.

[Critterfixer]

Yesterday was a good day. We may get started with school early today, as it is just way too cold for any outdoor time this morning. The usual suspects are on the docket: Latin, Math, Language Arts, Composition, Poetry Tea, History and Science. I've been discussing literature in the context of our composition, however, I ordered my Christmas present yesterday, and I'll probably unwrap it early. I bought Reader's Odyssey and Out of the Holding Tank to give me further ideas of how I can keep integrating the language arts. Merry Christmas to me!

 

I also bought our next read aloud. The boys are very much into all things dragon right now. We just finished a rather poorly written dragon story, but let me tell you, there is something to the idea of taking books that are not so well written and using them in discussion! I've more than half a mind to purchase that less that stellar piece of fiction, and take those plots, characters, scenes and dialog all to pieces for the purposes of how to critique in a respectful, constructive way. While the story had it's faults, it never lacked in action, and that is well worth pointing out to the boys so they can imitate that fast paced scene progression in their stories. (So chances are really good the little series of these books will find a place on my teaching shelf.)

 

 

[Tawlas]

Criterrfixer, your boys would be able to pick apart a dragon story? I'm impressed! My boys would never betray a dragon story lol!

 

How do you integrate Language Arts? From my other (wordy, convuluted, brain wandering) post I realized that I think, for now at least, the answer to my minor woes would be to integrate writing into other things, especially science and history. We really like FLL2, but WWE is causing problems. Oldest needs more practice with dictation, but a different kind, and middle needs more practice with copywork - although WWE's dictations seem to suit. So I'm trying to streamline a bit. We do a lot of itty bitty separate LA lessons each day!

 

Of course, mine are still learning to read so maybe I just need to be patient until we can drop AAR/OPGTR and ETC books . . . sigh. It's getting confusing!

[Critterfixer]

Respectfully pick apart, that's the key! I happen to really, really respect the way this author tailored her story for the intended age group, I love the fast action, and because the characters are flat, that allows the reader to more or less "role-play" which isn't at all a bad thing. Some of the scenes are just far-fetched and are not particularly believable (in that your suspension of disbelief is checked) and the bad guy is your classic evil overlord who simply doesn't have a brain. I used to have the Evil Overlord list somewhere--ought to dredge it up for the study of that character!

 

Picking apart does not have to be ripping apart, degrading to the author, or designed to destroy the beauty and enchantment of a good tale. In fact, it shouldn't. I think one reason it's hard for a writer to have his story discussed or critiqued is because he's afraid all that is going to happen to him. Writing fiction is a very, (VERY), personal thing. I figure that if I can show the boys that when we "take apart" a story we are not taking a hatchet to it, it may be useful in teaching them to critique their own work with grace. 

 

As far as integration goes for language arts, I haven't even attempted writing across the curriculum yet! We do write for both history and science, gathering topics for now in preparation to start outlining, per WTM. All I'm trying to do is to link spelling, grammar, lit discussion, vocabulary and composition. So far grammar has been the hardest to integrate for me. I don't feel too bad, even CW Homer appears to keep those grammar lessons close to, but not entirely integrated with the composition.

 

My advice to you from BTDT with mine?  Concentrate on the reading. I tried to start spelling way too early, and then I foolishly expected them to remember all the grammar rules. :smilielol5: Yeah.... 

[5LittleMonkeys]

I think I might need to start posting here....feeling that February slump already. Sigh. 

 

Juggling 5 different grade levels is proving to be a challenge for me and I often start the day with the thought, "It wouldn't hurt anyone if we just took today off so I can re-group."  Yes, well...doing that every other day will indeed hurt my dc and me in the end since they will fail to launch when they are about 18.  LOL!  Nothing is going badly; most of what we are using is well suited to each dc, fairly easy to implement or independent, and either well liked or at least tolerated.  The problem is motivation, routine, and outside influences preventing me from being consistent. Time to pull up my big girl panties and get busy. 

 

Yesterday (Mondays) are usually co-op, cleaning and grocery days so no school gets done by anyone unless two oldest decide to work on a couple of their subjects.  So, today is the start of our week. On the agenda today for dd11, ds8 and dd5:

 

• Start dd11 on her first day of Elemental Science - Logic Biology.  This will be an experiment day and we have all the supplies ready and a brand new compound microscope to use!  WooHoo!  
• Finish the Respiratory System project from The Body Book for ds8. (dd5 will cut\color for this as well)
• Complete the northern east coast section of the geography workbook and play a game to help memorize these states and capitols.  (dd11 and ds8)
• Read next chapter of The Magician's Nephew and write summaries. (dd11 ,ds8 and dd5 (narration))
• Math, grammar and vocab for dd11. (Independent except for a little help with math since it's a new concept)
• Math and phonics\spelling for dd8. (Math is just a game to work on multiplication table of 4)
• Alphabet review, work on counting to 20, and read aloud from fairy tale book (with narration) for dd5. 

 

Then we have dd16 and dd15...they work mostly independently but there are areas I have to help with, check and discuss:

• Work on negatives with dd15 (she has dyscalculia so math is something I have to help her with almost daily)
• Go over writing assignments for dd15 and dd16 in English and history. 
• Watch history lecture with them and discuss.
• Watch 2 astronomy lectures in preparation to discuss with dd16 tomorrow.
• Help dd15 set up cell experiment for biology. 

 

And here it is 10:30 in the morning and so far the only thing that has been accomplished is that my two cups of coffee have gotten rid of my headache.  Dd16 and dd15 aren't even out of bed, dd11 is actually working on her grammar test, and ds8 and dd5 are entertaining the 3 year old I babysit daily.  On a positive note dd16 doesn't have to work today so I don't have to go ANYWHERE, which means that school can take as long as it takes today!

 

So, I'll check back later in the day to let you all know if I gave up at lunch time or kept going!  :)

[mama25angels]

Yesterday was my birthday so we only did morning time, phonics and latin. I don't think we're going to get much more than that done today, I was sick last night, not sure if it's the two drinks I had or if I have a stomach bug or something. I'm also sick of my internet not working, I wonder if it'd work better if I quit paying for it!

[5LittleMonkeys]

It's now 1:30 and I've kept going!  Usually by this time of the day I'm spent and justify moving what's left on the schedule to the next day.

Here's my list with what we've accomplished marked off:

 

• Start dd11 on her first day of Elemental Science - Logic Biology.  This will be an experiment day and we have all the supplies ready and a brand new compound microscope to use!  WooHoo!  
• Finish the Respiratory System project from The Body Book for ds8. (dd5 will cut\color for this as well)
• Complete the northern east coast section of the geography workbook and play a game to help memorize these states and capitols.  (dd11 and ds8)
• Read next chapter of The Magician's Nephew and write summaries. (dd11 ,ds8 and dd5 (narration))
• Math, grammar and vocab for dd11. (Independent except for a little help with math since it's a new concept)
• Math and phonics\spelling for dd8. (Math is just a game to work on multiplication table of 4)
• Alphabet review, work on counting to 20, and read aloud from fairy tale book (with narration) for dd5. 
• Work on negatives with dd15 (she has dyscalculia so math is something I have to help her with almost daily)
• Go over writing assignments for dd15 and dd16 in English and history.
• Watch history lecture with them and discuss.
• Watch 2 astronomy lectures in preparation to discuss with dd16 tomorrow.
• Help dd15 set up cell experiment for biology. 

3 year old is about to go down for a nap so we will get all the science stuff out of the way then move onto geography.  Once that's done I can move onto what I need to do with the older dc. 

[Critterfixer]

We are carving our way through our day as well. It is nice to be able to mark off the accomplishments, isn't it?

Latin went great today, Math was so-so. The boys are having to learn the hard way that a low error rate is not just a lofty goal, but something they need to improve on. Spelling went well. I am really, really liking the practice of allowing them to choose words for spelling from the writing discussion passage. They chose far more difficult words than I would, often words they don't fully understand and that's vocabulary taken care of. Dictionary skills are improving by leaps and bounds now, and I'm seeing these words crop up in their writing as they begin to own them. Grammar is what it is. But today's contraction work went pretty well.

Writing was delightful today. We concluded inner life work on their protagonists, and I got into the concept of show-don't tell in a way that broke it down very well for them. They gave me a list of emotions, and I asked them to write how their character would act or behave if they felt that way. Then I had them each tell me what would make their character happy, sad and so-forth (the emotions they had chosen to illustrate). Then we combined the ideas for a sentence that gave the event, and then the action to demonstrate the emotion. Fun and useful. My homework tonight? Make the list for outer characterization, inner characterization and show/don't tell emotion words for their personal use with secondary characters to use on Wednesday and Thursday.

Last up is history and science-Assyria for one boy and the wonders of algae for the other. Not so much fun, but Egypt comes up tomorrow and so do mosses and liverworts. So that could be more interesting.

[mama25angels]

We are carving our way through our day as well. It is nice to be able to mark off the accomplishments, isn't it?

Latin went great today, Math was so-so. The boys are having to learn the hard way that a low error rate is not just a lofty goal, but something they need to improve on. Spelling went well. I am really, really liking the practice of allowing them to choose words for spelling from the writing discussion passage. They chose far more difficult words than I would, often words they don't fully understand and that's vocabulary taken care of. Dictionary skills are improving by leaps and bounds now, and I'm seeing these words crop up in their writing as they begin to own them. Grammar is what it is. But today's contraction work went pretty well.

Writing was delightful today. We concluded inner life work on their protagonists, and I got into the concept of show-don't tell in a way that broke it down very well for them. They gave me a list of emotions, and I asked them to write how their character would act or behave if they felt that way. Then I had them each tell me what would make their character happy, sad and so-forth (the emotions they had chosen to illustrate). Then we combined the ideas for a sentence that gave the event, and then the action to demonstrate the emotion. Fun and useful. My homework tonight? Make the list for outer characterization, inner characterization and show/don't tell emotion words for their personal use with secondary characters to use on Wednesday and Thursday.

Last up is history and science-Assyria for one boy and the wonders of algae for the other. Not so much fun, but Egypt comes up tomorrow and so do mosses and liverworts. So that could be more interesting.

 

I really love hearing about your grammar and writing studies!!

[5LittleMonkeys]

 

• Start dd11 on her first day of Elemental Science - Logic Biology.  This will be an experiment day and we have all the supplies ready and a brand new compound microscope to use!  WooHoo!  

   

• Finish the Respiratory System project from The Body Book for ds8. (dd5 will cut\color for this as well)

 

Complete the northern east coast section of the geography workbook and play a game to help memorize these states and capitols.  (dd11 and ds8)

 

Read next chapter of The Magician's Nephew and write summaries. (dd11 ,ds8 and dd5 (narration))

 

Math, grammar and vocab for dd11. (Independent except for a little help with math since it's a new concept)

 

Math and phonics\spelling for dd8. (Math is just a game to work on multiplication table of 4)

 

Alphabet review, work on counting to 20, and read aloud from fairy tale book (with narration) for dd5. 

 

Work on negatives with dd15 (she has dyscalculia so math is something I have to help her with almost daily)

 

Go over writing assignments for dd15 and dd16 in English and history.

 

Watch history lecture with them and discuss.

 

Watch 2 astronomy lectures in preparation to discuss with dd16 tomorrow.

 

Help dd15 set up cell experiment for biology. 

 

 

 

Okay - It's almost 5...I marked off the few other things that I was able to get done and as you can see didn't accomplish everything.  Dd11's science experiment took twice as long as I thought it would and we ended not being able to see the nucleus of the plant cells (I'm thinking we should have dyed them but the directions didn't indicate to do so).  I also spent about 45 minutes trying to get the concept of subtracting a negative from a positive through to dd15 with no luck. She's frustrated and I'm at a loss for how else to explain it.  Overall we had a good day...made some jumps in understanding in some subjects, produced some good writing, and did get quite a bit done considering the many interruptions from the littlest ones.  

 

 

 

I'm drained though, partly due to this wicked sinus headache.  I can check the highschooler's writing assignments this evening and probably watch the astronomy lectures on my laptop once I climb into bed.  I'll have dd11 read to dd5 before bed so I can cross that off my list. The respiratory system project has been misplaced (this is not the first time he's taken the "pieces" to play some weird anatomy game with and lost them) so I'm thinking I'm ready to be finished with the study of the human body until after Christmas when, hopefully, he'll be interested in something else. ;)  That leaves geography, dd15's science experiment, and history lectures to fit in tomorrow.  I might just wait with the history lectures and do them all together over a few hours on the weekend. Might leave the science experiment for the weekend too...maybe I can get hubby to do that with her. :)

 

 

 

 

 

[Critterfixer]

I posted in your other thread, but I'm using Key to Algebra for review for me and that first book in the series is on operations with integers. It has the best explanation of operations with negative numbers that I have ever seen. It was serious epiphany, and I don't get excited about math all that often.

[5LittleMonkeys]

I posted in your other thread, but I'm using Key to Algebra for review for me and that first book in the series is on operations with integers. It has the best explanation of operations with negative numbers that I have ever seen. It was serious epiphany, and I don't get excited about math all that often.

 

 

Thanks!  I haven't checked the other thread yet....I'll check this out. 

[Soror]

Sinus crap/cold here, my immune system has not been the the best. It is looking like it will be a slow week, that's ok, it would do us all some good. I may have over extended myself and my body may not have been quite ready. Anyway, we'll be starting back tomorrow but ds is sick too. 

[Critterfixer]

Sorry you and yours are feeling bad, soror. Sounds like a quiet, easy week would be in order for sure. 

[mama25angels]

Sinus crap/cold here, my immune system has not been the the best. It is looking like it will be a slow week, that's ok, it would do us all some good. I may have over extended myself and my body may not have been quite ready. Anyway, we'll be starting back tomorrow but ds is sick too.

Soror, I hope you guys feel better soon. When you have some time I'd love to talk to you a bit about Beast Academy for a kid that takes a bit to get concepts. He does get them, some just take longer for him to get, Beast would strictly be a supplement.

[5LittleMonkeys]

Hope everyone has a good day today!  

 

We're starting our day with a doctor's appt. for ds8 then I have to grab a few things at the store before heading home....hope to be back home by 10 and get started on school before I have to leave again at 11:30 to take dd16 to work.  Hopefully we'll get all of our core stuff done in between the coming and going.  I'm going to carve out a few hours this afternoon to work with dd15 on those negative numbers and her biology...she's not getting cellular respiration either. :(   

[Kfamily]

I'm still hoping to have a better week this time, even though I'm mid-way into it already. :)

 

For now, it looks like this:

 

Older:

 

Algebra

English

Latin

Art History

Readings include: Odyssey, Age of Fable, Le Morte D'Arthur (with narrations)

Book of Centuries entries

 

Still left...much more algebra, work on essays, more readings, ancient history, biology, French, theory, piano lesson, Plutarch's Solon, Herodotus

 

Readings together:

 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The Magic and Medicine of Plants

 

Younger:

 

Math

Dictation

Handwriting

Narrations and writing assignment

Readings from: Anne of Green Gables, Tales from Shakespeare, What Katy Did and A Child's Geography

Latin

American History: map work

Book of Centuries entries

 

Still left...more math, French, ancient history, Watership Down, Children of the New Forest, biology, theory, ballet, piano lesson

 

I hope to add A Christmas Carol next week for our holiday reading and the girls are working on a duet and their solos for their Christmas Recital along with Christmas carols. We are also so excited because we will be attending the Nutcracker ballet this Friday evening.

 

Hope everyone is well and having a good week. :)

[Soror]

Thanks for the well wishes all and it is nice to see some "new" people posting.

 

mama25- Well, I'm not sure as it is hard to speak for other people's kids, especially with no experience with them. The level of BA varies greatly, with some things being challenging even for me at parts (3A is notorious) and others being considerably easier. I really like the way it breaks things down and feel like they generally make topics easy to understand. It is helpful as well that they have the guide and practice book, as both really play off each other, and I think if one was a bit slower with concepts but liked the overall format adjusting the pace and supplementing and drawing out topics with other resources it would work well.  If it is in the budget you could just try out one book, look at the scope and see what you think he would be most interested in, since they are mastery each book is specific with what they cover. Another option to think about is to use it below grade level after the topics have been introduced in other curriculum.

 

We are feeling better here and have had a pretty decent day, all things considered. 

 

Ds did:

Time Travel Math (geometry)- proportions reading and first lesson; Beast Academy C- Guide- First Section about Factors- Fizz Buzz game to practice factors

Spelling-  Apples and Pears

Grammar and Writing- Practice Town and Week 16 of Treasured Conversations

History- King George; What's His Problem

 

Dd:

Horizons 2 Lesson

Logic of English D 1/2 Lesson- first day using this, lessons are definitely way longer than C, not sure if it is a good fit

Open Court  Reader- practice

 

Both- Astronomy reading; A Child's Introduction to Astronomy, looked some up on Sky View and looked up Stone Henge and Woodhenge(Cahokia)

dd's watched Wild Kratt show on pollination

 

DD1 has dance class tonight and ds has TKD, both olders have religion class.

 

Still need to do some read-alouds but I don't know when. I *need* a break and a bath and to clean my neglected house. It will likely be a bedtime activity, however considering the fact that we've been crazy busy and are also recovering from being sick I think it was a fabulous day.

 

I think I'll be dragging Killgallon back out. I want some more specific work with different sentence structure and having a pre-made guide would make my life easier, instead of me just coming up with things on the fly. 

[Soror]

KFamily- I'm looking for a nice read aloud to start with the whole family tied to the Holidays, I guess I need to start looking....

[mama25angels]

Thanks for the well wishes all and it is nice to see some "new" people posting.

 

mama25- Well, I'm not sure as it is hard to speak for other people's kids, especially with no experience with them. The level of BA varies greatly, with some things being challenging even for me at parts (3A is notorious) and others being considerably easier. I really like the way it breaks things down and feel like they generally make topics easy to understand. It is helpful as well that they have the guide and practice book, as both really play off each other, and I think if one was a bit slower with concepts but liked the overall format adjusting the pace and supplementing and drawing out topics with other resources it would work well. If it is in the budget you could just try out one book, look at the scope and see what you think he would be most interested in, since they are mastery each book is specific with what they cover. Another option to think about is to use it below grade level after the topics have been introduced in other curriculum.

 

We are feeling better here and have had a pretty decent day, all things considered.

 

Ds did:

Time Travel Math (geometry)- proportions reading and first lesson; Beast Academy C- Guide- First Section about Factors- Fizz Buzz game to practice factors

Spelling- Apples and Pears

Grammar and Writing- Practice Town and Week 16 of Treasured Conversations

History- King George; What's His Problem

 

Dd:

Horizons 2 Lesson

Logic of English D 1/2 Lesson- first day using this, lessons are definitely way longer than C, not sure if it is a good fit

Open Court Reader- practice

 

Both- Astronomy reading; A Child's Introduction to Astronomy, looked some up on Sky View and looked up Stone Henge and Woodhenge(Cahokia)

dd's watched Wild Kratt show on pollination

 

DD1 has dance class tonight and ds has TKD, both olders have religion class.

 

Still need to do some read-alouds but I don't know when. I *need* a break and a bath and to clean my neglected house. It will likely be a bedtime activity, however considering the fact that we've been crazy busy and are also recovering from being sick I think it was a fabulous day.

 

I think I'll be dragging Killgallon back out. I want some more specific work with different sentence structure and having a pre-made guide would make my life easier, instead of me just coming up with things on the fly.

Soror, so glad you are feeling better. Boy, you guys had a very productive day!! BA will definitely be used a grade level or two below. I'm thinking that if all he gets out of it is liking math, just a little bit, then it's worth it to me. I don't plan to stop his other program, but was thinking of turning Thursday's into our fun math day and using BA and Fred on that day AND using it over the summer instead of the regular program. Please tell me there's in answer key in Beast?

[Soror]

Yes, in the back of the book is the answer key, so no worries and there are hints for some of the hard problems. I'd buy one of the book sets (guide and practice set) and try it out to see if you like it, Horrible Books has free shipping FYI. Not sure the age/grade you are looking for but I think the 4B book was a particularly enjoyable.

 

I must have exaggerated as our day didn't feel all that productive :) We worked from about 9-1 and then watched Wild Kratts and that was that. At least we hit everything, although I shouldn't say everything as my only read aloud was our astronomy books but considering it all, I'm calling it good :) We have nothing at all planned tomorrow so I'm so excited for a normal day, plus I got the house mostly cleaned and am feeling better, win-win!

 

I even made it to the library tonight but the selection of books on space was pathetic and I was running short on time but at least I got ds some more books (newer fantasy and some classics) and dd has started listening to audio books so thankfully they will be getting in at least some lit. that way. 

[Critterfixer]

Tomorrow is our library day. Tonight was movie night, so that was good. 

I really very tired this week. There's a bit of family drama going on over the holidays, and I don't do drama at the best of times. I'm just hoping to get through next week and recover in time for the Christmas holiday. :glare:

School went pretty well today. We had some argument over math, but that was about it. We got through everything, and my one child who has disliked history the most is doing very well with the Kingfisher Encyclopedia, even paraphrasing a story that he wanted for his five facts. The other child is becoming deeply interested in plants, so I think we might park on moss and liverworts for an extra lesson, which will give me time to go beg some horsetails from a library in a wet area that I know. I think they will let me have a few if I asks nicely. And really, I've got to get a book on Bog Mummies after discussing peat, don't I?

[mama25angels]

Soror, thank you! I think we are going to try the 3D books first, as a Christmas gift, because they have fractions and right now we need the fraction help. I do intend to get both books, I'm so excited now!!

[Critterfixer]

I threatened to get the boys math books and Latin books for Christmas. :D Cause coal is so messy.

The day is going fairly well. The boys opted to charge ahead and take their math test this afternoon to avoid doing it on Saturday or Sunday. It fell that they would do their last lesson today, and have to take the test on that unit when we get back from break, which just wasn't going to fly. They've really struggled with this unit-and I'm finding CLE doesn't provide enough lesson practice on the things that they struggle with, so I'm going to have to come up with some practice sheets on my own, I think. I may have to make good on the threat of math books for Christmas.

We had free writing today, and one child has a sequel written that I need to type up later. After this math test, we have history and science, and today is library day. I might just hit the used bookstore if we get done with chores on time this afternoon.

[Soror]

Critterfixer, not sure what you are looking to review but Pizazz Math is free online and there are review sheets for most middle school math concepts.

 

Dd1 wanted to start early today, she is an early riser like me, so she was nearly finished with her core school before we usually even start the day. Most of the rest of the morning she spent making a book about the gingerbeard man, copying some pictures and then making up her own story, she had quite a fun time and it was entirely led by her, I love that! Ds was, as usual the exact opposite and wanted to wait as long as possible to start. We started our day with Time Travel Math book, which we are enjoying although it was a challenge for him as it involves drawing. It does a great job of taking the concepts and making them real with interesting activities, we loved measuring each other to see if the drawing ratios held true. 

 

We *finally* watched some videos about the Philae landing and ds and I watched the next episode of Cosmos. Oh, and I signed ds up for a computer science MOCC aimed for middle school due to start in Feb, which led to some playing around in Scratch, which honestly seems simple, even for me, after working with EV3 programming. Ds continued reading on his history book.

 

I've done some reading aloud to the girls but I'd like to do some more for everyone before the end of the day, I need to do some searching to find a good Christmas book for the whole family but I'm leaning towards just starting Dr. Dolittle for now. 

 

We're getting ready for a nature walk so, I need to get (although this post is in serious need of an editor).....

[Critterfixer]

Yeah--lots of stuff online that I can't use...my printer is hooked up to the non-internet desk-top, and my connection speed on the computer with internet is too low to even play a song. When it works. Don't get me started. :cursing:

Actually, I do have some Math Mammoth Blue Series that we downloaded before we changed to this --------DSL, so I'll be printing out the one on multiplication so that I can pick and choose. They just need more practice problems to work on paper, because when I put them on the board they do them perfectly, put them on paper and you'd think they'd never seen double digit multiplication in their lives. 

[mama25angels]

Yeah--lots of stuff online that I can't use...my printer is hooked up to the non-internet desk-top, and my connection speed on the computer with internet is too low to even play a song. When it works. Don't get me started. :cursing:

Actually, I do have some Math Mammoth Blue Series that we downloaded before we changed to this --------DSL, so I'll be printing out the one on multiplication so that I can pick and choose. They just need more practice problems to work on paper, because when I put them on the board they do them perfectly, put them on paper and you'd think they'd never seen double digit multiplication in their lives.

That is the same problem I'm having with Ds and I'm so darn frustrated. I did take out factoring fractions and I guess we'll start that next week for practice. I'm hoping that, that and Beast Academy will get him over this hump.

[Critterfixer]

I'm finding that I'm needing a lot more patience with math than I currently have stock of. I need to get back to a good hard run a couple of times a week. I simply need to have some higher endorphin levels for math class.

 

[Critterfixer]

AND....we are done for the day! Let the holidays begin!!!!!

[mama25angels]

AND....we are done for the day! Let the holidays begin!!!!!

Are you a Jan-Dec. homeschoolers? How awesome is it to be at the end of term 3? Congratulations, enjoy your holidays? Please keep coming and hanging out with us though, and by all means let us know what your new plans are.

[Critterfixer]

No, we school year round, because I'm a four and a half-day a week kind of person. But it's a week off for Thanksgiving, so I'm celebrating.

And I'll be checking in all week, because I'm spending some of that time planning winter term and messing around with writing, so yeah, I'll be on here when I can.

[Sdel]

Back from vacation.....something about cold and Florida just don't mix well.  Anyway, today was recovery day.  Tomorrow is errand/planning day.  I need to grocery shop since everything is bare.  I want to look over the upcoming lessons and figure out a holiday plan.  I think we will wind up schooling Sat. - Wed., and then pick back up on Monday.  This coming week will be stressful because we still haven't finalized Thanksgiving plans and DD's B-day is right after,  She'll be 7, but she's already been warned she's not having a big party because we just went to Disney and that was enough of a present. 

 

At least this week we only have gymnastics/baby's daycare feast on Monday for our school disrupting activities. 

 

Have I mentioned that I *HATE* the holidays and all the related custody games crap?

 

Stefanie

[Critterfixer]

Happy seventh birthday anyway! Hope everything goes well for you, Stefanie. My two turn eleven this coming week. (Sniff.) They really do grow up fast.

[Sdel]

Happy seventh birthday anyway! Hope everything goes well for you, Stefanie. My two turn eleven this coming week. (Sniff.) They really do grow up fast.

 

I've found it to be a truly awful birthday date.  You can't do anything on the actual day and expect anyone to show up, and it's very hit and miss on trying to do anything before or after.  Her b-day fluctuates between the day after Thanksgiving to the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Add in the custody issues for the holiday, and well, it's just not fun.

 

The last two 'parties' we've had, two kids outside of family have shown up and they basically admitted they only showed up because they had other b-days they were attending so they were out anyway; and last year not even family showed up.  And that is after inviting 20+ kids.  I'm not inviting 60 kids in order to have 6 - 10 of them show up......

 

But you know.....in the spring/summer/even early fall you can have a pool party and everyone and the dog will show up for one of those....

 

Anyway, she'll get to rule the day.  I hope DH remembered to take off.

 

Stefanie

[Sdel]

One other thing....I'm sitting here watching the baby conduct his own science experiment.......what will the suction cup arrow stick to.

 

The will-be-7-in a week year old is throwing a fit because she wants to 'see what the arrow will stick to' too....and I only have 1 arrow left because the almost 7 year old *ate* all the rest of them over the last year.

 

Stefanie

[5LittleMonkeys]

No, we school year round, because I'm a four and a half-day a week kind of person. 

 

 

 

I think we are going to have to start schooling year round too.  I just can't seem to keep any kind of momentum up during the week unless I refuse to let the dc do any social activities, extracurricular, doctors appointments, etc.  When they were younger we were able to take 6 weeks off over the holidays and 6 weeks off over the summer.  It was wonderful!  But now, I'm pushing it to take off a week for Thanksgiving, one for Christmas.  I've scheduled the older's work out so that it's a manageable amount of work considering dd15's learning issues and dd16's work schedule, and they will have to work until the end of August to get it all finished.  Granted they can get their daily work done in about 4 to 5 hours spreading it out like that, which they say they prefer ... I just need to bite the bullet and schedule the younger ones like that too. 

 

Tuesday (which I posted about earlier) was a fairly good day and then it all just went out the window the next day. Wednesday we only got the core stuff done and I helped dd15 with her math, Thursday was a complete wash...I woke up late due to this headache I can't get rid of and then had art and dance classes to get to then had a couple errands I couldn't put off any longer so didn't get home until 1 then I had to sit down and prep for the highschool lit group that I lead at 3.  They didn't leave until 4:30 and then it was time to start dinner.  (sigh)  The 3 older dc and I went to the opening of the new Hunger Games movie last night and didn't get home until almost 11 and there was dd5 and ds8 in the living room watching Dr. Who with dh.  He'd fallen asleep so didn't get them into bed at 9 like I'd asked him to. :glare: So, it was 11:30 before I got the 3 younger ones into bed and well after 12 before they finally fell asleep.  Needless to say they needed to sleep late today so we've not started school yet.  I have high hopes of getting everything accomplished though since the only thing I have to go out for is to take oldest to work at 11:30. Also, I told the dc that whatever they didn't finish from this week would get pushed to next week when they are supposed to be off...that should motivate them. :)  I admire those of you who can fit in a lesson of math here or a lesson of history there...all in between the goings on of your life.  I've been doing this a long time and that's one skill I still have yet to master.  

 

I'm looking forward to next week.  The youngers don't have anything scheduled (although the olders will still have to do their work) so I'm hoping to get some tweaking done so that when we do get to sit down with school I know exactly what we need to do and have all the "stuff" we need to do it.  I'll probably spread the younger's schedule out year long to see what that looks like too. 

[mama25angels]

Well, we made it through the week, just barely! I declare fractions are going to be the death of me. And we had some allergy related problems this morning. We still had a fairly good week, with the exception of math. Latin was the highlight this week, I think Ds is starting to enjoy it, even though he'd probably never admit it. Phonics is going great for my 1st grader and so is math and morning time. So, looking forward to next week.

[5LittleMonkeys]

It's 4:00.  Guess what I'm doing again.  

 

NEGATIVE NUMBERS.....AGH!

[Tawlas]

I'm still musing over writing for dsd8. Holding other people's words in her head is just so frustrating for her and I suspect maybe the vocabulary is a little beyond her too. My ds7 is doing okay with it so I'm torn. Ditch WWE2 for her and do something else? CAP Fable? It looked interesting and I think she'd like it . . . she likes to write things down on her own and is even starting to incorporate FLL grammar into her writing. Not sure if it'd be too advanced if she's struggling with WWE2? Narrations are not her strongest point either, but she's been doing better lately. Ditch only the dictation in WWE2 for her and substitute with simpler/her own narrations? Go with something different for them both and still keep them together for writing?

 

I hate to do it, but I'm almost wondering if there is something more going on with her. . . she *still* confuses e with i (instead of e making a short 'e' sound she almost always says short 'i' sound, but not the other way). There are other things too, I can't really put my finger on it, just something seems off. But she's not my biological dd, maybe she just learns in an entirely different way? She's intuitive in math. She's only been learning to read in English since January. She was in French IMmersion before that, and struggling to learn to read in French too . . . She's caught up, amost, to my 7yo but things aren't really progressing like I expected. Her language arts is all at an early grade 2 level, including output in history and science. I may just be feeling impatient. I also may have made a mistake in allowing her to read a Junie B Jones book to me. . . there's so much slang it's hard for her to follow sometimes. If nothing else, I think I'll get her vision checked asap. All the kids could probably use it, really. And no more Junie. Then go from there.

 

Thank goodness we've taken the week off for academics this week, it's been beyond crazy with ranch stuff! I'd be a basket case trying to get it all done!

[Soror]

5LittleMOnkeys- I hear you on busyness, it does make it challenging. Hopefully, you can figure out a way to get everything done. It looks like you've had another join your hs'ing this year as well (5yo) and I'm sure that makes it even more challenging. I'm only officially schooling 2 and I know the jump in work with dd doing more this year was an adjustment and I'm sure it will be next year as well when I add dd2. I cannot wrap my brain around schooling 5 at a time or the 4 I currently have, thankfully it doesn't come all at once. 

 

I'm thrilled that our schedule is slowing down this next month or so. I'm trying to figure out our dance schedule the next semester so it  is easier on us. I think we've reached the point we cannot add anything more, at least for now as we will just not be able to get everything done. 

 

Tawlas- I'm not an expert but often we have those instincts for a reason, it might be worth looking into more. 

 

Sdel- Happy B-day to your daughter, I have 2 kids with birthdays this week and it is a stinky time for it. I don't know when we're doing a party, with the holidays and everything else we've been too busy.

 

Critterfixer- Enjoy your break !

 

Decent day here yesterday, despite the fact that we didn't get started until 10:30 as I had to go in to get my blood drawn, which then didn't happen and now I have to go back next week anyway grr!

 

Horizons Math is great for dd, she loves being able to do some on her own, as each lesson has some review. She did what she could on her own along with her cursive, she goes through her writing books just for fun, so different than her brother! She did reading from the Open Court and I See Sam readers and I'm leaning heavily towards returning LoE D, the feel is decidely different and I don't know if it will work for dd. Mostly I just think she needs to practice and build confidence and I don't know that we will get enough out of the lessons to make it useful.

 

Ds and I got the next lesson of Time Travel Math done but no Beast Academy as the lesson took over an hour. We also knocked out writing and spelling. He read some more of King George, What's His Problem- he really enjoys Sheinkin's books he's always asking me little facts as he is reading them.

 

As a family we read some picture books, Introduction to the Night Sky and Miracle on 34th street. I got a few ideas from the Christmas Novel thread and also have Tolkein's Letters from Father Christmas on the Kindle. I hope we make it through these 2 as I really want to read a couple more on the thread, especially Abbott's Kringle, which sounds especially appealing to ds, and either one of Funke's or d'Engle's books. 

 

So, we are starting to get back in the groove and I'm hoping next week we can be back to normal. On the planning end I'd like to find some more resources for studying birds for winter Nature Study. I also want to gather up some craft/decoration ideas for the girls and Christmas. I'm really liking the feel of our family studies, this is working especially well for science. I'm not so great at this for History but it just doesn't come as easily to me (I know that's the opposite of a lot of hs'ers!).

 

I really enjoy having this thread to talk about the day, it helps me process where we're at, what we're doing well and where I want to improve. I'm really mulling over schedules now so it is such a help to read about how others do things, sometimes I can tell right off that it won't work for us but often there are bits that are useful. Something about putting it out there in print makes it clearer for me, however I have a house full of robotics kids so I need to get and try to get done what I can, this will be another busy weekend but at least not as bad as last so I'm hoping to get a bit more caught up.

[Tawlas]

Soror - does your 7.5 year old use Writing and Rhetoric or just your 10yo? I'm eyeballing their first book, Fable, but I *think* it will be too hard for my 8yo to use. I think she'd like it but I'm not sure I should attempt it yet - she's got a sensitive ego and I don't want to discourage her.

[Soror]

My son used Fable last year at 9 at it was a good age for him, I'm *probably* going to try it next year for dd at a bit over 8 but we'll have to see how the rest of the year goes. Right now she does some copywork here and there, we talk about stories and she has her projects that she does, like writing books or letters etc- those are generally directed by her though. My oldest daughter is the sensitive type as well and I usually go slower with her than ds, she is however more (written)language adept than ds was at this age so I'm not sure how it will play out.

[Critterfixer]

 5LittleMonkeys, I really like the way Key to Algebra, the first book, explains the negative numbers with the football game. I finally understood why two negatives make a positive when multiplied together with that analogy, so it did more than just cover addition and subtraction using the same idea.That was helpful for me. Wish those things had been around when I was doing Saxon 1/2. I actually might have been a little less frustrated. I'd have been much, much less frustrated if someone had taken the time to reassure me that a certain amount of wrestling with a math concept did not reflect on my person, or my brain capacity, because I was pretty well convinced up until college that Math was the very Devil. Calculus changed my mind. :D

 

Tawlas, I'd say if reading is an issue, I'd drop the dictation for a while unless it is something she loves, or something she has written. It certainly won't hurt to get her checked out to see if she is having a vision problem, but I would mention the auditory stuff as well. It could be part of the dictation thing? 

I don't mind dictation, but I don't really care for it, and I really think that the sentences ramp up too much for kids who are not reading well or spelling well. If you forced me to take dictation in a language that I was still learning and struggling with, I'd probably stare at you, ask you to repeat it multiple times and then mess it up anyway and feel really dumb. I got my fill of dictation taking narrations word for word from the boys. That was plenty to convince me that dictation needs to be WAY gentle, and WAY short at a young age. 

Never underestimate the importance of understanding the vocabulary. It's one thing to say write this, but part of keeping something in your mind to write it is knowing what it is about, and that implies understanding of the meaning. If you feel the vocabulary is too much, then it is too much. I constantly expect my guys to pick up vocabulary in context, and only this year do I really, REALLY grasp how important it is to really get feedback on understanding of words. Particularly with my hFA son, who won't speak up when he doesn't get the meaning, but really needs me to go over exact meanings. He's actually improved with Latin study--which is how I intend to structure his vocabulary study because that seems to really help him. I am learning to take the time to read things aloud, and then to go word by word to find out what the boys don't understand, to discuss and work through sentences and why they were written the way they were. It takes a lot more time, but it has been especially rewarding for us this year.

 

 

 

[5LittleMonkeys]

 5LittleMonkeys, I really like the way Key to Algebra, the first book, explains the negative numbers with the football game. I finally understood why two negatives make a positive when multiplied together with that analogy, so it did more than just cover addition and subtraction using the same idea.That was helpful for me. Wish those things had been around when I was doing Saxon 1/2. I actually might have been a little less frustrated. I'd have been much, much less frustrated if someone had taken the time to reassure me that a certain amount of wrestling with a math concept did not reflect on my person, or my brain capacity, because I was pretty well convinced up until college that Math was the very Devil. Calculus changed my mind. :D

 

 

 

There's a local place that sells these...I'll check them out as soon as I get a chance to swing by there.  

 

She was able to understand the concept of subtracting a negative using the piles of dirt and holes analogy the day I first showed it to her that way.  The trouble with this dd is that often - with difficult "to her" math concepts (or any information really - but mostly with math) her brain dumps the info right after we put the book away.  It takes weeks of repeating the new information over and over, as if it is new each time, for her brain to finally create a spot to store it.  So, not only do I have to find that one explanation that opens her brain for a short time...or imagine this explanation creates a shallow depression  in her mind to hold the info while we are talking about it, but I also have to repeat the information enough times that the depression is deep enough to hold onto the information.  If the information is only presented once then the depression isn't deep enough and some other information can easily displace it, or it can just slip out without the pressure of actively thinking about it. 

 

It's funny that the piles of dirt and holes analogy worked with her since I equate getting certain information to stick with her  to planting a seed.  If you put the seed on top of the ground chances of it staying put long enough to sink roots into the ground are slim.  If you create a depression to put the seed in you have a little better chance of it growing there...but if you dig a nice hole that it can't get blown or washed out of then it's going to stay put and get some roots going.